Tile linkage for forming a bracelet



- PRIOR ART R. M. KING 7 TILE LINKAGE FOR FORMING A BRACELET Q File dMay 20, 1968 Sept. 22, 1970 7 lnvenlqr Ra -er" M/Lnerking PM, JWNZ, Pub4am United States Patent 3,529,416 TILE LINKAGE FOR FORMING A BRACELETRoger M. King, Watford, England, assignor to Roger King Milner Limited,Hertfordshire, England, a British company Filed May 20, 1968, Ser. No.730,251 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 26, 1967,24,568/ 67 Int. Cl. F16g 13/18 US. CI. 59-80 6 Claims ABSTRACT THEDISCLOSURE A flexible tile linkage for forming a bracelet is providedwhich comprises staggered rows of tile links interconnected by crosspins. The side walls of each tile are chamfered towards the bottom andsignificantly thinner than the walls forming the upper and lowersurfaces thereof. The result is that many more tiles can be provided ina bracelet of a given length thus giving enhanced flexibility.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to tile linkagefor forming flexible articles of jewellery such as bracelets, watchbracelets and necklaces.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION One type of flexible bracelet comprises two ormore (although most usually an odd number) overlapping rows of tilesjoined together by cross-pins termed a tile bracelet or a brickbracelet. Such a bracelet can flex inwardly at the points between twotiles in a row to fit around the wrist of a wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention toprovide a tile linkage for forming a flexible bracelet or like articleof jewellery which has enhanced flexibility.

The invention provides a tile bracelet or like article of jewelleryformed from rows of tiles joined by cross-pins in which each tile hasside walls and upper and lower walls and the side walls aresignificantly thinner than the upper and lower walls which form theupper and lower surfaces of the article of jewellery.

Because the side walls are thin, the length of the tile can be shorterthan normal, thus enabling a bracelet or the like to be made from alarger number of tiles than for a conventional bracelet of the samelength, thus of course allowing for greater flexibility. Preferably, thecorners of each tile which are at either end of the wall which will formthe lower surface of the article are rounded or otherwise chamfered (andthe lower parts of the side walls also chamfered) to enable the articleto flex easily, into the curved position, that is around the wrist orneck of a wearer and at the same time resisting curving in the opposeddirection.

Even greater shortening of the tiles is possible (thus resulting in evengreater flexibility) if the cross-sectional shape of the cross pins ismade to have significantly less thickness in width as compared to theheight thereof. The upper and/or side surfaces of the tiles can be leftplain or decorated such as by embossing or covering with precious orsemi-precious stones.

ice I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention maybe fully understood a preferred embodiment thereof will now be describedwith refernce to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a section of a tile bracelet;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a conventional form of tile bracelet;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a tile bracelet according to theinvention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a tile used in the bracelet ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The tile linkage for forming abracelet as shown in FIG. 1 comprises tiles 1 arranged in three rows A,B, C and interconnected by cross-pins 2 (shown cross-hatched) which, asindicated, are square in cross-section at their ends but allow movementof centrally located tiles thereabout. The cross pins may be secured inplace by any conventional means such as by cementing, by pinning throughthe material of the tiles and cross pins 2, or by indenting material ofthe tiles into the surface of the cross pins 2. 7

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of two tiles in row A (of FIG. 1) ofconvential structure, the dashed line 3 indicating the joint between twotiles in row B therebehind.

F136. 3 shows the tiles 4 and pins 5 of this invention and it will benoted that the side walls of tiles 4 are narrower (e.g. about half thewidth) than those of tiles 1 and that the pins 5 are thinner than pins 2thus enabling many more tiles 4 to be formed into a bracelet of a givenlength than would be found in a similar bracelet formed from tile 1. Atile 4 is shown enlarged in FIG. 4 and will be seen to have chamferedside walls at 6 (beginning at approximately the mid-point of tile 4) andcurved lower corners 7.

With the added reduction in width of the cross-pins 5, to the reductionin side wall thickness of the tiles 4, it will be seen that asubstantial reduction in tile length (thus resulting in greatlyincreased bracelet flexibility) is achieved.

The invention is not limited to the precise form shown in the drawingsand may, of course, be modified in a manner which will occur to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A tile linkage for a bracelet or like article of jewellery formedfrom rows of tiles joined by cross-pins in which each tile has sidewalls and upper and lower walls, and the side walls are significantlythinner than the upper and lower walls which form the upper and lowersurfaces of the article of jewellery.

2. A tile linkage as claimed in claim 1 in which the corners of eachtile which are at either end of the wall forming the lower surface ofthe article are rounded.

3. A tile linkage as claimed in claim 1 in which the corners of eachtile which are at either end of the wall forming the lower surface ofthe article are chamfered.

4. A tile linkage as claimed in claim 1 in which the cross-pins joiningthe tiles are, in cross-section, significantly less thick in width thanin height.

5. A tile linkage as claimed in claim 3 in which the cross-pins joiningthe tiles are, in cross-section, signifi- FOREIGN PATENTS cantly lessthick in Width than in height. 2 I

6. A tile linkage as claimed in claim 1 in which the 47 10/1958Swltzerland' upper surfaces of the tiles are decorated. CHARLES LANHAM,Primary Examiner References Cit d 5 G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS CL 2,392,115 1/1946 Blumstein 5979 634 2,610,4639/1952 Prestinari 59--8O

